Arik Gilbert was as big a name as there was in LSU’s 2020 recruiting class.

He was the highest-rated tight end to ever arrive on the LSU campus – or any other campus for that matter.

He was the star of the Tigers’ preseason camp.

He became even more important to LSU’s offensive plans for this season after reigning Biletnikoff Award winner Ja’Marr Chase opted out before the season began.

He became more important still when leading receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. opted out 2 weeks ago.

And now Gilbert too might be moving on.

Gilbert missed practice Monday, reportedly because he has a severe case of homesickness and is considering leaving the program.

Head coach Ed Orgeron and the Tigers are trying to convince Gilbert – the team’s 2nd-leading receiver with 35 catches for 368 yards and 2 touchdowns – to stick around.

If Gilbert doesn’t return, the first game in his absence ironically will be against Florida on Saturday.

It was the game against Florida last season in Tiger Stadium that convinced the Marietta, Ga., native to spurn his home state university and sign with Louisiana’s.

Gilbert cited several factors that lured him to Baton Rouge.

The record-setting passing game devised by passing game coordinator Joe Brady and directed by quarterback Joe Burrow convinced Gilbert that he would be able to thrive with the Tigers.

But Brady and Burrow are gone to the NFL – Brady as the offensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers and Burrow as the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Cincinnati Bengals, though Burrow’s season ended last month with a knee injury.

Still, Gilbert has had some success in the passing game, especially in the beginning of the season when Myles Brennan was playing quarterback. But Brennan hasn’t played since being injured against Missouri in the 3rd game of the season. Perhaps not coincidentally, Gilbert has not scored a touchdown since Brennan was injured.

Gilbert also said the electric atmosphere in Tiger Stadium during the 42-28 victory against Florida and the general feeling he got while walking the campus made him feel at home.

There were 100,000 fans in Tiger Stadium when Gilbert made his recruiting visit. LSU has played 3 home games this season and it still hasn’t attracted a combined 100,000 because of COVID-related restrictions on attendance.

Life on campus hasn’t been what Gilbert experienced during his visit. Athletes are isolated as much as is practical, some classes are conducted remotely and general mingling on campus is kept to a minimum.

Gilbert’s experience last fall and what he envisioned this fall would be like are nothing like what this fall has actually been.

The drop-off in performance by the 3-5 defending national champions is only a part of it. Life at LSU – football-wise and non-football-wise – is very different these days.

Orgeron has earned a reputation as a top-flight recruiter. It was an important factor in him being hired as head coach.

His string of top-5 recruiting classes was an important factor in the Tigers’ championship season in 2019. Continued success in signing blue-chip recruits will be critical to getting the program headed back in the right direction.

But Orgeron’s recruiting skills are being challenged in a way they have never been before.

He’s having to re-recruit players – convince them not to come to LSU, but to stay at LSU.

It’s one thing to bring a recruit to a bustling, thriving campus, expose him to one of the most festive and intimidating venues in college football and show him the championship-caliber team he’ll be joining.

It’s another thing entirely to convince players to stick with a very different team, environment and level of success than they expected.

Especially when they have seen expected teammates jumping ship by the score.

Re-recruiting Arik Gilbert figures to be much harder than landing him in the first place.